ESPN Projects the Ravens as the Best Starting Lineup in the NFL

The Baltimore Ravens have been no strangers to high expectations the last few seasons, and it will be more of the same this season as well. ESPN projects the Ravens as having the best starting lineup in the NFL heading into the 2025 season. 

ESPN NFL analysts Mike Clay, Aaron Schatz, and Seth Walder combined their rankings to determine which team had the best roster. They took into account talent, age, and production, and the Ravens ultimately emerged as the winner.

Lamar Jackson is the Biggest Strength

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson will always be one of the biggest X-factors on the Ravens. Jackson, the two-time MVP, is a future Hall of Famer, and that is what makes the Ravens so dangerous on offense. 

In 2024, Jackson had another career year. Jackson led the NFL in QBR, while also throwing for over 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns. ESPN’s Mike Clay also cites Jackson’s dual-threat ability as the reason he is the Ravens’ biggest strength on offense.

“The dual-threat QB has never finished a season lower than second at his position in rushing yards,” Clay said.

Jackson raises the floor for everyone else on the Ravens offense as well. Jackson played a significant role in helping running back Derrick Henry nearly achieve another 2,000-yard season at the age of 30.

Back in January, Henry told Ravens team website writer Clifton Brown about how Jackson’s special abilities benefit his teammates. 

“You can put anybody by Lamar, and they’re going to have a hell of a year,” Henry said.

Guard is the Team’s Biggest Weakness

The Ravens’ line is a strength in general, but the weakest point on it at the moment is the guard position, according to Mike Clay. The left guard position will be determined through training camp battles among Andrew Vorhees, Ben Cleveland, and possibly a third candidate competing for the role.

Daniel Faalele will man right guard for the team. Last season, Faalele struggled with run blocking. PFF graded Faalele the 86th-ranked guard out of 136 in the league for run blocking and received a 58.5 grade. According to PFF, Faalele’s pass blocking, on the other hand, was above average compared to other guards in the league. PFF gave Faalele a 63.5 pass blocking grade, which ranked him 63rd out of 136 qualified guards.

Kicker is a Question Mark

The biggest mystery for the Ravens is the kicker position after the departure of Justin Tucker due to both performance and off-field issues. The Ravens addressed the kicker position in the draft by spending a sixth-round pick on Tyler Loop out of the University of Arizona.

Aaron Schatz wrote in the ESPN article, “The sixth-round rookie showed inconsistent accuracy in his final two seasons at Arizona.” At Arizona, Loop was below 80% on made field goals in both his junior and senior seasons. Loop will have big shoes to fill on the field to replace Tucker’s production at kicker.

The Ravens are positioned in 2025 to have another Super Bowl-contending team. After falling short in the playoffs the last two years, the Ravens know that this is their window to win now.